"With all the controls there are on tyres and engines and so on, there has probably never been a cheaper time to be in F1 - with adequate sponsorship and income from Bernie, it is effectively self-funding. So it's a shame BMW didn't give it one more year.

"But there may have been other pressures - particularly that they have been uncompetitive compared to what they have been used to.

"It's possible that the team will still race in F1 next year, but to do so they need one of the four new teams to collapse.

"If that does not happen, one of the biggest disappointments will be that Peter Sauber, who founded the team and remains a shareholder, will not be in the sport.

"That is very unfortunate because he is one of the most high-quality people to grace F1. He has integrity and honour, and he is very competitive."

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